Afghanistan and Central Asian Association

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) is an award-winning British charity established in 2001 with a long history of delivering advice, support and integration support for refugees and asylum seekers across the UK including Northern Ireland. ACAA was founded by Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi, who arrived as a refugee in the back of a refrigerated container with his young family in 1999. The charity has steadily grown and is now the largest Afghan diaspora-led charity in the UK.

ACAA is a well-established community-based charity delivering practical, educational and emotional support to refugees and racially minoritised people from around the world including those from Afghanistan, Syria and the Ukraine. Our extensive experience of working directly with newly arrived refugees in crisis and successful model for refugee integration work means we understand the needs of refugees and new migrants and how to respond to them to ensure the best outcomes for the immediate and long term.

Our history and lived experience are relevant - Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi founded the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association (ACAA) after arriving in the UK in the back of a lorry with his young family fleeing the Taliban advance of the late 1990s. His motivation was, and still is, to support other new arrivals facing the same situation – poor English, not understanding British culture and institutions, coping with his and his family’s experience of displacement and trauma, and wanting to integrate into a new life in the UK

Now, 25 years later, ACAA is proud to have supported over 150,000 refugees and now provides ESOL for Integration, information and advice, counselling, IT and work skills learning, supplementary schooling for children, cultural and sports activities and women’s groups – all leading to better integration, improved educational attainment and employability, and improved health and well-being. Whilst our long-term base has been in Hounslow, west London, we also offer our services in other major cities around the UK in partnership with local charities and public authorities.

ACAA advises the UK Government and the London Mayor’s office. ACAA has a solid reputation for high quality, culturally sensitive services based on utilising the lived experience of its’ Director, Trustees, staff and volunteers. Amongst the awards we have received are the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services 2018, Refugee Support Service of the Year 2019 for London and The Community Award 2019, from the London Asian Business Awards.  Our Founder Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi has received the British Citizens’ Award, Third Sector Awards and the MBE. In July 2024, Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi was awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree by Royal Holloway, University of London.

Our core services in the UK include:

• Education, training and development opportunities for adults and children – planned programmes such as ESOL for Integration, Supplementary Schools, British citizenship test preparation, business and employment advice and support, and also pastoral and individualised support such as assistance with financial issues, benefits issues, CV and Cover letter writing workshops, practice Job Interviews, support with digital skills, 1:1 pastoral support, skills/training, in particular ESOL skills for work, Volunteering and Work Placements, Job Brokerage.
• Business accelerator hub – job fairs, business networking events, conferences, talks and exhibitions
• Women’s outreach and women and girls-only projects – culturally sensitive and appropriate support for women and girls’ empowerment, development, advice and support to increase knowledge of UK systems and support victims of domestic abuse.
• Educational programmes and courses for children, catch-up sessions for young people, family mentoring support programmes, coding classes, Maths and Science classes, language classes, debate clubs, animation classes, creative education for young people
• Legal and advice clinics to Advice Quality Standard and OISC accreditation, using volunteers and pro bono solicitors, focusing mainly on immigration, housing, business and employment issues. • Mental Health workshops and one-to-one counselling sessions with translation
• Practical assistance with resources, information and advice for new arrivals in the UK under Government resettlement schemes (particularly given our proximity to Heathrow Airport)
• Social and cultural activities and events promoting community cohesion, festivals, exhibitions, film screenings and fashion shows
• Volunteering, mentoring and internships for young people
• Arts, Media, Culture and Fitness programmes (Football, Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Dance) for disadvantaged and socially excluded women and girls
• Food Bank for local residents, in partnership with Pret, Greggs, Fairshare, Tesco and other stores
• Free Hot meals through our Community Kitchen and Cookery Masterclasses
• Community Library & Community Café for the Public
• Function Hall/Conference Centre

Note that ACAA at this time is only remote in NI.